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Tag Archives: India
The great reveal… or not
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a wretchedly reluctant entrepreneur… yet to have the life I prefer to lead, and more specifically to unpack my bags in Mumbai, regular employment just isn’t the way to go.
So here is the great ‘reveal’… (more…)
Visa o visa woes!
Twas the night before my Tokyo flight… and all was decidedly NOT calm in our house… Cue partner muttering expletives, with the occasional shout of exasperation.
Why?
He had a film shoot in London…
Great, right? You bet! Independent production with a cross-continent story of an estranged father-son relationship… with every element to potentially do well in the film fest circuit.
Sounds fab! Until…. time to apply for a UK work visa…
(more…)
Fusion Soup – Massaman Pumpkin
One of the delightful things about living in Asia is access to a great variety of vegetables the easy way one can fuse flavours just by combining a little of this with a little of that!
While home, I had a hankering for pumpkin soup… but decided to give it a Thai twist! (more…)
Tyrconnell, Ledaig Island, Talisker Dark Storm
June was my turn to host, cleverly scheduled during my one week home… My goal was to stump our resident expert with offerings he had never sampled before…
Tasting Notes from 17 June 2014
Following our standard format, we blind tasted samples before revealing the whisky. This month featured: Tyrconnell 10 year, Ledaig Island Cask, Talisker Dark Storm and something extra special – Tapatio Excelencia Gran Reserva Extra Anejo. (more…)
Singleton Artisan, Sullivans Cove, Bowmore 21
Welcome to tasting notes from a monthly private whisky club in Mumbai, India. Alas as I’m in Jakarta, am missing our May session, so offer instead notes from last month’s session.
Tasting Notes from 17 April 2014
As usual, we blind tasted samples before revealing the whisky. This month featured: Singleton Artisan, Sullivans Cove and Bowmore 21 year. (more…)
Canadian lass in Bollywood – Aspiring actress or dreams dashed?
A dear director friend asked if I could meet with a young Canadian woman contemplating moving to Mumbai to get into acting here. Mostly from the perspective of how I’ve adjusted, my experience with visas, etc.
East weds west on the small screen – read all about it!
Now it isn’t completely unheard of.. after all… in a country of a billion plus people there is a ONE new TV serial that actually stars a blonde haired blue eyed new bride “Firangi Bahu.” I’ve been a bahu or daughter-in-law and survived to tell the tale! It isn’t a completely preposterous idea…
But breaking into ‘The Bollywood Biz” ain’t easy… and while I’m no expert, I have watched on the sidelines off and on since 1990 with friends and family (partner) who have struggled and sometimes succeeded in film, TV and stage. Along the way have picked up a few insights and stories behind the stereotypes….
Yet I still felt like such a nasty horrible person dishing out the following reality check dashing starry eyes and hopeful smiles: (more…)
Behind the billboard… Daddy Cool
A couple of years ago, my partner got a real kick out of seeing this billboard plastered around Mumbai…
Aalim Hakim Poster – look closely at the lower left pic
Why? Though he spent 30 years in the ‘biz’, I was the one getting a tiny slice of ‘fame’ (notoriety?) thanks to the small square with my photo.
Today, he’s having the last laugh as billboards for his recent TV commercial can be spotted all over the country! And the ad is running not just in India but also in South & South East Asia, Africa and the Middle East. (more…)
Who keeps the house clean?
A friend sent a link to a new online publication he started called “Scroll.in – News that matters”. I love lots about it and while the current focus is on the Indian elections, an earlier article on domestic matters caught my eye:
The taxman cometh…
What does a Canadian living in India on contract for a project in Indonesia then Malaysia through an Australian company do for taxes?
Before I flew to Indonesia, there loomed the 15th March deadline for “Advance Tax” payment – a critical “To Do” task akin to getting a root canal. Ugh!
While I have no regrets about going ‘independent‘, the simplicity of a salary is something I sorely miss.
So decided to share my pain by sharing my warped understanding of the Indian taxation system: (more…)
Happy Holi + St Paddy’s Day
When away from ‘home’ it is easy to forget the rhythms of ‘home’ festivals and celebrations.
Like missing Chinese New Year celebrations in India… and catching the tale end in Malaysia.
St Patrick’s day wasn’t even on the radar until I went to Bluegrass in Kuningan, Jakarta for dinner with a fab gal pal and saw the St Paddy’s themed F&B specials appealing to the ex-pat crowd. (more…)
Everyday Asia 